UK woman initially thought she was entering menopause
In January 2021, Carla Mitchell, from the UK thought that the rapid heartbeat she is experiencing is a sign of menopause. The 36-year-old thought she is experiencing the signs of closure of her reproductive years in her 30s; a fact that is corroborated by several health agencies that some women experience menopause in their 30s and early 40s. However, later she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, Insider reported.
She was anemic
Mitchell was anemic, which is a classic sign related to menstruation, and linked her condition with menopause. She experienced a fast heartbeat, painful legs, and shortness of breath even after doing small activities like climbing stairs.
In 2022, she learned that she has an inherited condition
More than a year after dealing with anemia, Mitchell learned that she has a genetic condition that makes her more at risk of developing certain types of cancer like those of bowel, womb, and ovary. This condition is called Lynch syndrome and this is what made her prone to bowel cancer.
What is Lynch syndrome?
Lynch syndrome is also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). It increases the risk of colorectal cancer or bowel cancer due to the mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2 genes. As per health reports, variations in these mutations can increase the risk of cancerous growth in the skin and brain.
A colonoscopy revealed that she has bowel cancer
Considering her age, doctors recommended she have a colonoscopy test and this diagnosed her with bowel cancer. Anemia is a classic sign of bowel cancer. Cases of colorectal cancer are increasing these days and the disease is occurring in young adults. In India, colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancers among men and women.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
The common symptoms of bowel cancer are changes in bowel movement which can either be constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and spotting blood in stools. These signs occur very commonly and people do not link it to cancer until it advances to a late stage.
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